Hip Pain and hip stiffness
Sometimes pain from other areas of the body, such as the groin pain (e.g. hernia) or back pain (e.g. Sciatica), can radiate to the hip. There can be many causes of hip pain, you may have discomfort in your:
- Groin
- Thigh
- Buttocks
- Inside of hip joint
- Outside of hip joint
If you have hip pain, physiotherapy may be able to help your pain and improve your mobility. Read about the types of hip conditions you may need physiotherapy for.
Osteoarthritis of hip is degeneration or wear and tear between joint surfaces of the hip. It usually occurs in hips that have experienced trauma, infection or injury or age related changes. Osteoarthritis develops as the cartilage that protects the bone ends thins down and the bones will begin to rub against each other when the joint is moved resulting in narrowing of the joint space between the bones. The surrounding bones react by becoming thicker and grow outward and form bone spurs. All these changes can lead to pain, swelling and discomfort in the hip on movement or rest.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: is caused by an overactive immune system. The hip joint, like other joints in the body, is protected by a capsule that completely surrounds the joint. This capsule has an inner synovial lining that is filled with lubricating joint fluid that helps with smooth joint movement. Rheumatoid arthritis produces inflammation of the synovial lining and eventually causes erosion of the cartilage and underlying bone, resulting in damaged and deformed joints. Symptoms include fatigue, stiffness, swelling, and pain in the hip.
Ankylosing Spondylitis: is a genetic condition leading to inflammatory arthritis of the hip. Early signs and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis might include dull achy pain along with Stiffness in the lower back and hips, especially in the morning and after periods of inactivity. Fatigue is also common. Symptoms might worsen with time, improve or stop at irregular intervals.
Snapping Hip syndrome: is a condition in which you feel a snapping sensation or hear a popping sound in your hip when you walk, get up from a chair, or swing your leg around. This occurs when a muscle or tendon moves over a bony protrusion in your hip. This condition can be painless and harmless even though the sensation can be annoying. However, in long standing cases, snapping hip can lead to hip bursitis that is a painful swelling of the fluid-filled sacs lying over the hip joint.
Trochanteric Bursitis: Inflammation of bursa (sac of fluid) on the outer side of the hip can be a common source of pain on outer hip or thigh. The pain usually worsens with physical activity, example – when a person walks up the stairs. The pain is usually worse at night, especially when a person is lying down or has been lying on their side for some time. If the tendons around the hip bone are also inflamed, symptoms may be worse.
Labral injuries: Labrum is a ring of cartilage present on the outside rim of the socket of your hip joint. It helps to cushion the hip joint and hold it into place. Hip Labral Tears can occur either due to a structural deformity which can lead to degeneration or trauma such as injury or dislocation to the hip joint. Patients usually complain of pain in front of the hip joint along with stiffness of the hip joint. This may present with locking, clicking or catching sensation in the hip joint Patients may experience difficulty climbing stairs, prolonged walking and prolonged standing. A hip labral tear may predispose you to develop osteoarthritis of hip joint in the future.
Hip replacement surgery: Total hip replacement –THR to reduce pain and improve function in chronic conditions such as Hip Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteonecrosis. For a full recovery following hip replacement surgery, regular exercises are important to restore normal hip movements and strength and a gradual return to daily activities. These exercises are important for increasing circulation to your legs and feet to prevent blood clots and reduce any post-op swelling.
Hip Impingement Syndrome: is due to increased friction during hip movements that may damage the joint. Patients usually complain of pain in the groin after prolonged sitting or walking. Occasionally, a popping or clicking in the front of the hip is felt by the patient. Pain may also radiate along the side of the thigh and in the buttocks.
Tendinitis: Inflammation of tendons surrounding the joint.
Referred Pain: from herniated discs and Sciatica
Overuse Syndrome or Muscle Strains: Overuse or trauma results in various conditions like tendonitis, muscle pull and bursitis, commonly in runners.
Fracture: femur or acetabulum due to direct injury or osteoporosis